The International Dimension of Catalan Organisations: The Challenges of Public Diplomacy
The 8th FOCIR Conference was held on 25 October 2008 at the Institut d’Estudis Catalans and dealt with, as the title suggests, “The International Dimension of Catalan Organisations: The Challenges of Public Diplomacy.”
As part of this new era of growth, FOCIR wanted to raise awareness of the tasks being carried out by the network of Catalan associations in terms of international relations, as well as the increasing the contribution of Catalan civil society to the world.
This year, the conference was introduced by the President of the Parliament of Catalonia, Ernest Benach, the President of FOCIR, Mònica Sabata, and an IEC representative, Josep Maria Ponts. Throughout the day there were a total of three round tables, which showcased specific examples of international recognition for Catalan organisations, public diplomacy and the country’s international presence with guests from Finland and Slovenia, as well as the challenges faced by Catalan organisations during their internationalisation processes.
